Supply voltage selector

ABSTRACT

An active diode includes a plurality of transistors and a built-in offset voltage. The built-in offset voltage size can be determined by sizing of at least one of the plurality of transistors to prevent supply current flow from one supply source into another supply source, thereby preventing current flow from a higher voltage source to a lower voltage source.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of selecting a highest voltage supply in a system where multiple voltage supply sources are present, and more particularly to a system and method wherein an active diode with built-in offset is used to select the highest voltage supply in the system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A computer chip, used mostly in Bluetooth involved applications, requires low power. In a system, using the computer chip requiring low power, where multiple supplies are present, there is a need to select the highest supply from the different types of voltage sources. For example, in a cell phone which includes a primary battery, a secondary battery, a backup battery and a charger supply, there is a need to select the highest supply from the different voltage sources.

In a switching regulator with power management where the computer chip requiring low power is used, one problem is high voltage is needed although such system also needs low voltage generated. Thus, with two supply sources, a circuit in the switching regulator needs to figure out which one of the supply sources is the highest supply source. Furthermore, even though the circuit needs to connect to the highest supply source, there is no initial power to the circuit, for example to a battery selector. So, for example, if there is battery A and battery B in the switching regulator, the battery selector cannot automatically select battery A because battery A may not be plugged in. The battery selector also cannot automatically select battery B. Additionally, battery A and battery B cannot be both be connected to the battery selection because this may cause a short. Furthermore, if the circuit connects to one source permanently, the circuit cannot dynamically connect to another higher source. Thus, the circuit has to dynamically figure out which supply source to connect to and when the voltage of the connected source is decreasing, the circuit has to determine when to dynamically switch to the other source with a higher voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention that together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an active diode 100 in which an embodiment the present invention may be implemented;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the higher voltage source is selected;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, wherein multiple (N) voltage sources are provided; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the characteristics of the diode I-V curve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an active diode 100 in which an embodiment the present invention may be implemented. Active diode 100 includes multiple transistors M0-M2 and M11-M13 implemented in a complementary metal oxide semi-conductor (CMOS) integrated circuit design. Active diode 100 also includes a built-in offset voltage that can be well controlled, wherein the built-in offset voltage size can be determined by sizing of transistors to prevent supply current flow from one supply source into other supply sources. Thus, active diode 100 prevents current flow from the higher voltage source to the lower voltage source.

The active diode is also self-biased. The bias current is controlled by the resistor R1 transistor M11, and supply voltage. The current is given by (Vin-V_(GS(M11)))/R1, where Vin is the incoming supply voltage, V_(GS(M11)) is the gate to source voltage, and R1 is the bias control resistor. It should be noted that R1 is one form of bias and that other forms of bias may be used in the present invention. An advantage of the present invention is to be self-biased so that the diode does not need extra supply.

FIG. 1 illustrates voltage (Vin) entering active diode 100 and a voltage (Vout) existing active diode 100. Transistor M0 determines whether or not to be connected between the input and output, wherein when there is enough voltage drop between Vin and Vout, the transistor M0, controlled by control node Vc, will be turned on. Transistor M0 is controlled by the current comparison of transistors M2 and M13. Transistors M2 and M1 create the built-in offset voltage. To simplify the design, M12 can be sized to be the same as M13, and the length for M1 and M2 are the same. When M1 and M2 are biased in a sub-threshold region, the offset voltage can be estimates as V_(os)=n*Ut*log_(e)(W₂/W₁), where n and Ut are constant, and W2 and W1 are the width f the M2 and M1 transistors. When the built-in offset voltage is reached from Vin to Vout, transistor M0 is turned on. Thus, according to the present invention, the built-in offset voltage is used to prevent the two supplies into the system from being short together.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the higher voltage source is selected. As shown in FIG. 2, there are two incoming voltage supplies, VDD_1 and VDD_2 and two active diodes 100 a and 100 b with built-in offset voltage. The system is able to dynamically choose the higher voltage source and the built-in offset voltage.

For example, in FIG. 2, if the voltage entering VDD_1 is 1.5V and the voltage entering VDD_2 is 1.8V, the system selects VDD_2 as its supply source. The output voltage VDD_OUT=VDD_2-Vos, where Vos is the offset voltage of the active diode

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, wherein multiple (n) voltage sources are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, there are n incoming voltage supplies, VDD_1 to VDD_n and n active diodes 100 a and 100 n, each with a built-in offset. As shown in FIG. 3, the number of active diodes are used determine the number of selections that may be made by the system that implements the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the characteristics of the diode I-V curve. In FIG. 4, the input supply varies from 0 to 1.6V, and the VDD-OUT is fixed at 1.5V. Thus, when the incoming voltage is below 1.5+Vos=1.515V, (Vos=0.015V in this case), there is nearly no current. However, after 1.515V the current goes up.

The above-discussed configuration of the invention is, in a preferred embodiment, embodied on a semiconductor substrate, such as silicon, with appropriate semiconductor manufacturing techniques and based upon a circuit layout which would, based upon the embodiments discussed above, be apparent to those skilled in the art. It would also be within the scope of the invention to implement the disclosed elements of the invention in discrete electronic components, thereby taking advantage of the functional aspects of the invention without maximizing the advantages through the use of a single semiconductor substrate.

The foregoing description has been directed to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent; however, that other variations and modifications may be made to the described embodiments, with the attainment of some or all of their advantages. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such variations and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An active diode comprising: a plurality of transistors, a built-in offset voltage, wherein the built-in offset voltage size can be determined by sizing of at least one of the plurality of transistors to prevent supply current flow from one supply source into another supply source, thereby preventing current flow from a higher voltage source to a lower voltage source.
 2. The active diode of claim 1, wherein the active diode is configured to be self-biased, wherein bias current is controlled by a resistor, transistor and supply voltage.
 3. The active diode of claim 1, wherein the current is given by (Vin-V_(GS(M11)))/R1, where Vin is an incoming supply voltage, V_(GS(M11)) is a gate to source voltage, R1 is a bias control resistor, and M11 is the transistor.
 4. The active diode of claim 1, wherein the active diode is configured so that one of the plurality of transistors determines whether or not to be connected between an input and output, wherein when there is enough voltage drop between incoming supply voltage and outgoing supply voltage, the one of the plurality of transistors, controlled by a control node, is turned on.
 5. A system for dynamically selecting a higher voltage source, the system comprising: at least two active diodes with a built in offset voltage; at least two incoming voltage supplies; and a supply selector for dynamically selecting a higher supply source from the at least two incoming voltage supplies and the built in offset voltage.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system is configured such that a number of the active diodes are used to determine a number of selections that is made by the supply selector.
 7. A method comprising: allowing incoming supply voltage to enter an active diode and an outgoing supply voltage to exist the active diode; determining by a transistor in the active diode, whether or not to be connected between an input and output, wherein when there is enough voltage drop between the incoming supply voltage and the outgoing supply voltage, the transistor, controlled by a control node, is turned on; and providing a built-in offset voltage, wherein the built-in offset voltage size can be determined by sizing of at least one of a plurality of transistors to prevent supply current flow from one supply source into another supply source, thereby preventing current flow from a higher voltage source to a lower voltage source.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the active diode is configured to be self-biased, the method comprising controlling bias current by a resistor, transistor and supply voltage.
 9. A method for dynamically selecting a higher voltage source, the method comprising: providing at least two active diodes with a built in offset voltage; providing at least two incoming voltage supplies; and dynamically selecting a higher supply source from the at least two incoming voltage supplies and the built in offset voltage.
 10. An apparatus comprising: providing means for providing at least two active diodes with a built in offset voltage; providing means for providing at least two incoming voltage supplies; and selecting means for dynamically selecting a higher supply source from the at least two incoming voltage supplies and the built in offset voltage.
 11. An apparatus comprising: allowing means for allowing incoming supply voltage to enter an active diode and an outgoing supply voltage to exist the active diode; determining means for determining by a transistor in the active diode, whether or not to be connected between an input and output, wherein when there is enough voltage drop between the incoming supply voltage and the outgoing supply voltage, the transistor, controlled by a control node, is turned on; and providing means for providing a built-in offset voltage, wherein the built-in offset voltage size can be determined by sizing of at least one of a plurality of transistors to prevent supply current flow from one supply source into another supply source, thereby preventing current flow from a higher voltage source to a lower voltage source. 